MickyB

I've done it once that I remember, on a 3523 with five to the 9. I actually had two aces outside (12-14 NT) but I'd sooner pass on the hand that Justin suggested.

Deciding to cover not more than one third of the time, _is_ mixed strategy, isn't it? :) Only if you cover more often than never ;)

You don't *have* to use a mixed strategy - the important thing is to not cover more than one-third of the time. If you do so, it starts being right for declarer to finesse on the way back. If you cover precisely one-third of the time, the finesse and the drop are equal probability.

How do the sane and insane versions differ?

I disagree - some hands have nothing they want partner to particularly focus on, some are better off just inviting rather than making a scientific bid that will help the defence.

When you are in a 5-2 fit, I don't think you should mind the opponents competing.

Is it possible that you may have not had "we open" checked?

Not sure what you mean: I always have the option of bidding 1NT and passing partner's response... (Note that all the response are natural) I believe 1NT didn't promise values before. Now it is defined as inv+.

Which structure are you talking about? The relays that I suggested for Dr. Todd or the response structure over MOSCITO's 1♦ opening? In terms of the MOSCITO response structure: Paul decided to tweak things again 1N = relay, game invite+ 2♣ = transfer to Hearts 2♦ = transfer to Spades 2♥ = transfer to Clubs 2♠ = game invite with 3+/3+ in the minors 2N = game invite+ with 4+ Diamonds The main gain is the transfer to clubs, along with the 2♠ raise. The main lose is the weak jump shift to 2M. As I understand matters, it was felt that hands suitable for a WJS to 2♥/2♠ were few and far between.. You also seem to have lost the ability to play in one of partner's suits at the 2 level - or had that gone a while back?

Depends what a 3NT response means. I agree that 3♠ forcing 3NT and 3NT to play is inefficient, but it sounds like a good way to play until you always remember to bid 3♠ puppet to 3NT - then you can define 3NT as something else :rolleyes:

Ho-hum. Very interesting. If I thought hearts would be 6-3, I'd definitely try 3NT, and it is worthy of consideration even now - it is unlikely to get axed when it is wrong because noone will have a trump stack <_< and neither opponent will know how much his partner has in the way of high cards. If I had a chance at playing three rounds of trumps I'd be much happier with pass, but I won't get in to play the third round. I think I'll pass and hope that they can't get many ruffs in the short trump hand anyway.

I would take it as NF, Free. You have all kinds of ways of showing slam interest, but no other way of showing a minimum with extra club length that doesn't want to sell out to 3♦.

Any ideas if 2♥ is likely to be 5 cards or 6, Justin?

4♥ for me

I'd pass first as well...yes, passing then making a 2 suited bid indicates 5-6 for me. However, my Muiderberg 2s aren't *ahem* always 5-5 even at this vul, if they were it would be an obvious 2♥ opener.

Down to agreements. There doesn't seem any need for a 1♠ bid to show ♠ here, maybe it should be some kind of catch-all.

Yes, it is forcing. It is probably possibly to put the GFs somewhere else so it can be passed on a sub-min, but that would gain very rarely. An alternative scheme that I've just thought of - have 1♦:1♥, 1♠ show both minors (leaving open the possibility of playing 1NT) with a 1NT rebid showing ♠. 2♣ could either show both minors with ♦ longer as at present, or it could be used to show a ♠ reverse, limiting 1NT.

My system, which was based upon the responses to 1♣ used by Welland-Fallenius, is now sufficiently different to deserve its own name - I have christened it "Siege". You can find the notes at http://sieged.blogspot.com. At heart it is a natural, dialogue based system but it uses a lot of transfer bids. The notes are still under construction, but hopefully they will be of interest - any comments (either here or on the site) are welcome. Here is a summary of the system: 1♣ - 2+cards, natural or balanced. If balanced, it may have 4-5♦; If unbalanced, it won't have 4♦. Transfer responses allow you to show various three card raises and to show 17-19 balanced with a 1NT rebid, while ♦ rebid is a good/bad raise of partner's major. 1♦ - 4+cards, unbalanced, may have longer ♣. The free 1NT rebid is used to show any 2 suiter without distorting the relative lengths. 1♥ - 5+cards, 2/1 GF except rebid. A 1NT rebid is used to show any 15+hand without 5-5 shape. 1♠ - 5+cards, with light 2/1 responses. After 1♠:2X, opener can show a GF single suiter with 2NT or a GF raise with 3X+1. 1NT - 10-13 1st seat NV, 14-16 others. 2♣ - "Trebuchet" - Either GF, 23-24 bal, an Acol 2 in a major or a weak 2 in ♦. 2M responses are two-way - either an escape from 2♦ or to play opposite an Acol two in that suit. Some form of transfers apply after most direct seat overcalls, with non-forcing 2 level bids and transfers from 2NT over any 2 level overcall.

I just bid 4♣ and sold out to 4♥, which worked well - partner has overbid with x Txx KJ8x QTxxx, 4♥ and 5♣ are both 1 off, 4♠ by them would make. I'm still not sure if I prefer 4♣ or 5♣.

No, it is showing willingness to compete - likely based on a 6th spade. I still think it is far more likely he was deciding whether to bid game than whether he should bid at all.

I'd bid 1♠ here because I'm happy to give preference back to ♥. If I was 6151 and 1♥:1♠, 2♣:2♠ showed 8-11 or so then I'd probably make a WJS, although it wouldn't be a terribly nice hand for the system.

Woo, interest in my system :P It is known as "Siege", and despite this 1♣ opener it isn't a Fantunes variant. It uses a short club, 14-16 NT except 1st NV when it is 10-13, minor two-suiters always open 1♦, and there are lots of transfers both in contested and uncontested auctions. I've just started entering it into a blog, I'll post the link here shortly.

4♦. Don't want to put pard off if he has a stiff heart.

Don't you just love LOL bidding... I'll pass. My heart values don't look great, and If I'm playing this my partner probably can't declare to save his or her life.

3♣, 2♣ in this position and vul can be quite aggressive for most.